-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, OspZbN0q2RQzAyFNZUUDjyJP6E5DbThOcWPcpzAT8ffItmvCdkX+Kk1magZsunLK LIJHhsI3gTMLjT7oBfSFoQ== 0001116502-03-000796.txt : 20030507 0001116502-03-000796.hdr.sgml : 20030507 20030506173553 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001116502-03-000796 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030506 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in registrant's certifying accountant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20030507 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AUTONATION INC /FL CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000350698 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500] IRS NUMBER: 731105145 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13107 FILM NUMBER: 03684909 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 110 SE 6TH ST CITY: FT LAUDERDALE STATE: FL ZIP: 33301 BUSINESS PHONE: 9547696000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 110 SE 6TH ST CITY: FT LAUDERDALE STATE: FL ZIP: 33301 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19951215 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: REPUBLIC WASTE INDUSTRIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: REPUBLIC RESOURCES CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900226 8-K 1 autonation-8k.txt CURRENT REPORT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 _____________________ FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date Of Report (Date Of Earliest Event Reported) May 6, 2003 ----------- AUTONATION, INC. ---------------- (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) DELAWARE 1-13107 73-1105145 -------- ------- ---------- State Or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer Of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 110 S.E. 6th Street Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301 ----------------------------- (Address Of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code) Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (954) 769-6000 ---------------- ____________________________________________________ (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report) ITEM 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant. Effective as of May 6, 2003, AutoNation, Inc. ("AutoNation") appointed KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as its new independent public accountant. Effective as of May 5, 2003, AutoNation dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") as its independent public accountant. This change in independent public accountant was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of AutoNation. The change was made following the recent announcement by D&T that it had ended efforts to separate Deloitte Consulting, which provides certain non-audit consulting services to the Company that will become prohibited services for an audit firm to provide to its audit clients under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder. During AutoNation's most recent fiscal year and through the date of this Form 8-K, there were no disagreements between AutoNation and D&T on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to D&T's satisfaction, would have caused D&T to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report. AutoNation engaged D&T as its independent public accountant effective as of May 31, 2002 and, accordingly, D&T did not render services to AutoNation with respect to accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. None of the reportable events described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K occurred within AutoNation's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this Form 8-K. As described above, AutoNation engaged D&T as its independent public accountant effective as of May 31, 2002. The audit report of D&T on the consolidated financial statements of AutoNation and its subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. As described above, AutoNation engaged D&T as its independent public accountant effective as of May 31, 2002 and, accordingly, D&T did not render audit services with respect to the consolidated financial statements of AutoNation and its subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. AutoNation provided D&T with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. Attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1 is a copy of D&T's letter, dated May 6, 2003, stating its agreement with such statements. During AutoNation's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this Form 8-K, AutoNation did not consult with KPMG with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on AutoNation's consolidated financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events listed in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K. 2 Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits Number Exhibit - ------ ------- 16.1 Letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding change in certifying accountant. 99.1 Press Release of AutoNation, Inc. dated May 6, 2003. 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. AUTONATION, INC. ------------------------------- (Registrant) By: /s/ Jonathan P. Ferrando --------------------------- Jonathan P. Ferrando Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Dated: May 6, 2003 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Exhibit Number Description - ------ ----------- 16.1 Letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding change in certifying accountant. 99.1 Press Release of AutoNation, Inc., dated May 6, 2003. EX-16.1 3 ltr-acountantchange.txt LETTER RE: CHANGE OF CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT Exhibit 16.1 May 6, 2003 Securities and Exchange Commission Mail Stop 11-3 450 5th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Dear Sirs/Madams: We have read Item 4 of AutoNation, Inc.'s Form 8-K dated May 6, 2003 and have the following comments: 1. We agree with the statements made in the second sentence of the first paragraph and the second, fourth and fifth paragraphs. 2. We agree with the statement made in the third paragraph with respect to the period from May 31, 2002 through the date hereof. Our engagement as the independent public accountant of AutoNation, Inc. commenced on May 31, 2002 and, accordingly, we have no basis on which to agree or disagree with the statement as it relates to the period prior to May 31, 2002. 3. We have no basis on which to agree or disagree with the statements made in the first, third and fourth sentences of the first paragraph and the sixth paragraph. Yours truly, DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP cc: Mr. Craig T. Monaghan Chief Financial Officer AutoNation, Inc. EX-99.1 4 pressrelease-991.txt PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Marc Cannon - --------------------- (954) 769-3146 cannonm@AutoNation.com AUTONATION APPOINTS KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (MAY 6, 2003) -- AUTONATION, INC. (NYSE: AN), America's largest retailer of both new and used vehicles, today announced that it has appointed KPMG LLP as the Company's independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. AutoNation's previous independent auditor was Deloitte & Touche LLP. As previously announced, the Company's Audit Committee decided to search for a new independent auditor following Deloitte & Touche's announcement in March that it was ending efforts to separate its consulting unit. Under new rules implemented under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, audit firms will be precluded from providing certain consulting services to their clients, including services provided to AutoNation by Deloitte's consulting unit. AutoNation will continue its relationship with Deloitte's consulting business, which continues to provide support on AutoNation's back-office consolidation efforts. ABOUT AUTONATION, INC. - ---------------------- AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest retailer of both new and used vehicles. Ranked No. 93 on the 2003 Fortune 500, AutoNation employs approximately 28,500 people and owns and operates 373 new vehicle franchises in 17 states. For additional information, please visit http://corp.AutoNation.com or www.AutoNation.com, where more than 100,000 new and used vehicles are available for sale. ### -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----